US6102289A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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1D finder pattern for 2D bar codes
Assignee: Intermec IP Corp
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Filing: 1996-06-28
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Granted: 2000-08-15
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Expires: 2016-06-28
Abstract
Abstract An easily findable 2-dimensional bar code is disclosed comprising a 2-dimensional bar code; and, a 1-dimensional bar code directly associated with the 2-dimensional bar code at a known distance and orientation with respect to a starting location of the 2-dimensional bar code whereby the 1-dimensional bar code acts as a locator for the 2-dimensional bar code. In one embodiment, the 1-dimensional bar code is incorporated as part of the 2-dimensional bar code into a hybrid bar code. The 1-dimensional bar code may contain information defining decoding of the 2-dimensional bar code. The 2-dimensional bar code may contain information supplemental to information in the 1-dimensional bar code. The 2-dimensional bar code may also contain information redundant to information in said 1-dimensional bar code. Further, the 1-dimensional bar code contains information required for decoding of the 2-dimensional bar code whereby a greater percentage of the 2-dimensional bar code is available to contain data. The invention also includes a bar code scanning system capable of scanning and decoding either 1-dimensional bar codes or 2-dimensional bar codes combined with 1-dimensional bar codes.
Inventors
- 👤 Donn E. Gabrielson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:46
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/06009; G06K19/06037; G06K19/06018; G06K19/06028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A plural-component symbology, comprising: a) a 2-dimensional bar code having a predefined location; and b) a 1-dimensional bar code associated with said 2-dimensional bar code at a known distance and orientation with respect to said predefined location of said 2-dimensional bar code, said distance and said orientation being predetermined to enable said 1-dimensional bar code to act as a locator for said 2-dimensional bar code to facilitate finding of said 2-dimensional bar code, and said distance including a horizontal component d 1 and a vertical component d 2 , each of d 1 and d 2 being ≧0.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A plural-component symbology, comprising: a) a 2-dimensional bar code having a predefined location; and b) a 1-dimensional bar code associated with said 2-dimensional bar code at a known distance and orientation with respect to said predefined location of said 2-dimensional bar code, said distance and said orientation being predetermined to enable said 1-dimensional bar code to act as a locator for said 2-dimensional bar code to facilitate finding of said 2-dimensional bar code, and said distance including a horizontal component d 1 and a vertical component d 2 , each of d 1 and d 2 being ≧0.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
9 words
The symbology of claim 1 wherein d 2 =0.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The easily findable 2-dimensional bar code of claim 1 wherein: said 1-dimensional bar code contains information defining decoding of said 2-dimensional bar code.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The easily findable 2-dimensional bar code of claim 1 wherein: said 2-dimensional bar code contains information supplemental to information in said 1-dimensional bar code.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The easily findable 2-dimensional bar code of claim 1 wherein: said 2-dimensional bar code contains information redundant to information in said 1-dimensional bar code.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The symbology of claim 1 wherein: said 1-dimensional bar code contains information required for decoding of said 2-dimensional bar code and replaces a symbol recognition pattern of said 2-dimensional bar code.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for easily finding and orienting a 2-dimensional bar code comprising: a) associating a 1-dimensional bar code with the 2-dimensional bar code at a predetermined distance and orientation with respect to a predefined location of the 2-dimensional bar code, said distance including a horizontal component d 1 and a vertical component d 2 , each of d 1 and d 2 being >0; b) scanning the 1-dimensional bar code in combination with the 2-dimensional bar code and creating a pixel memory map thereof; c) searching the pixel memory map along a pattern of scan lines until the 1-dimensional bar code is found; and d) using the predetermined distance and orientation of the 1-dimensional bar code with respect to the 2-dimensional bar code to fix the location and orientation of the 2-dimensional bar code within the data of the pixel memory map.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for easily finding and orienting a 2-dimensional bar code comprising: a) associating a 1-dimensional bar code with the 2-dimensional bar code at a predetermined distance and orientation with respect to a predefined location of the 2-dimensional bar code, said distance including a horizontal component d 1 and a vertical component d 2 , each of d 1 and d 2 being >0; b) scanning the 1-dimensional bar code in combination with the 2-dimensional bar code and creating a pixel memory map thereof; c) searching the pixel memory map along a pattern of scan lines until the 1-dimensional bar code is found; and d) using the predetermined distance and orientation of the 1-dimensional bar code with respect to the 2-dimensional bar code to fix the location and orientation of the 2-dimensional bar code within the data of the pixel memory map.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising: a) decoding the 1-dimensional bar code; and b) employing data from the 1-dimensional bar code to decode data contained in the 2-dimensional bar code data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 8, comprising: a) providing a decode definitions table defining one or more ways of decoding the 2-dimensional bar code; and b) employing data from the 1-dimensional bar code as a pointer into the decode definitions table, and using an entry from the decode definitions table to decode the data contained in the 2-dimensional bar code.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
108 words
A bar code scanning system comprising: a) at least one symbology according to claim 1; b) a scanner for scanning a 2-dimensional field of view containing said symbology; c) a video memory for holding pixel data associated with said 2-dimensional field of view; and d) find and decode logic for: d1) storing pixel data associated with said 2-dimensional field of view into said video memory; d2) searching said video memory along a pattern of scan lines until said 1-dimensional bar code of said symbology is found; d3) using said 1-dimensional bar code to locate said 2-dimensional bar code of said symbology; and d4) decoding said 2-dimensional bar code.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
The bar code scanning system of claim 10 and additionally comprising: a) a decode definitions table defining one or more ways of decoding a 2-dimensional bar code; and, b) said find and decode logic including logic for employing data from said 1-dimensional bar code as a pointer into said decode definitions table and for using an entry from said decode definitions table to decode said 2-dimensional bar code.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
229 words
A method for automatically decoding a 2-dimensional bar code having a plurality of interpretations comprising: a) prior to scanning: a1) associating a 1-dimensional bar code with the 2-dimensional bar code at a predetermined distance and orientation with respect to a predefined location of the 2-dimensional bar code, said distance including a horizontal component d 1 and a vertical component d 2 , each of d 1 and d 2 being ≧0; and a2) including a definition of the interpretation to be accorded the 2-dimensional bar code at a time of decoding within the 1-dimensional bar code; and b) at a time of scanning: b1) scanning the 1-dimensional bar code in combination with the 2-dimensional bar code and creating a pixel memory map thereof; b2) searching the pixel memory map along a pattern of scan lines until the 1-dimensional bar code is found; b3) decoding the 1-dimensional bar code and obtaining the definition of the interpretation to be accorded the 2-dimensional bar code therefrom; b4) using said predetermined distance and orientation of the 1-dimensional bar code with respect to the 2-dimensional bar code to fix the location and orientation of the 2-dimensional bar code within the pixel memory map; and b5) decoding the 2-dimensional bar code from the pixel memory map according to the definition of the interpretation to be accorded the 2-dimensional bar code from the 1-dimensional bar code.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
229 words
A method for automatically decoding a 2-dimensional bar code having a plurality of interpretations comprising: a) prior to scanning: a1) associating a 1-dimensional bar code with the 2-dimensional bar code at a predetermined distance and orientation with respect to a predefined location of the 2-dimensional bar code, said distance including a horizontal component d 1 and a vertical component d 2 , each of d 1 and d 2 being ≧0; and a2) including a definition of the interpretation to be accorded the 2-dimensional bar code at a time of decoding within the 1-dimensional bar code; and b) at a time of scanning: b1) scanning the 1-dimensional bar code in combination with the 2-dimensional bar code and creating a pixel memory map thereof; b2) searching the pixel memory map along a pattern of scan lines until the 1-dimensional bar code is found; b3) decoding the 1-dimensional bar code and obtaining the definition of the interpretation to be accorded the 2-dimensional bar code therefrom; b4) using said predetermined distance and orientation of the 1-dimensional bar code with respect to the 2-dimensional bar code to fix the location and orientation of the 2-dimensional bar code within the pixel memory map; and b5) decoding the 2-dimensional bar code from the pixel memory map according to the definition of the interpretation to be accorded the 2-dimensional bar code from the 1-dimensional bar code.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 12 comprising: a) providing a decode definitions table defining one or more ways of decoding the 2-dimensional bar code; and b) employing data from the 1-dimensional bar code as a pointer into the decode definitions table, and using an entry from the decode definitions table to decode data contained in the 2-dimensional bar code.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The symbology of claim 6, wherein said 1-dimensional bar code is disposed between portions of a data matrix of said 2-dimensional bar code.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The symbology of claim 1, wherein said 1-dimensional bar code is disposed between portions of a data matrix of said 2-dimensional bar code.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The symbology of claim 1, wherein said 1-dimensional bar code and said 2-dimensional bar code are at least partially vertically aligned, one above another.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The symbology of claim 4, wherein said 1-dimensional bar code and said 2-dimensional bar code are at least partially vertically aligned, one above another.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The symbology of claim 5, wherein said 1-dimensional bar code and said 2-dimensional bar code are at least partially vertically aligned, one above another.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7, wherein associating the 1-dimensional bar code includes at least partially vertically aligning the 1-dimensional and the 2-dimensional bar codes, one above another.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 12, wherein associating the 1-dimensional bar code includes at least partially vertically aligning the 1-dimensional and the 2-dimensional bar codes, one above another.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 10, wherein said 1-dimensional bar code and said 2-dimensional bar code are at least partially vertically aligned, one above another.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-15 | 2004-02-14 | 2004-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-15 | 2008-02-14 | 2008-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-15 | 2012-02-14 | 2012-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |